Minutes 14 March 2024

Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 14th March 2024 at Abbots Morton Village Hall

Minutes 03/2024

 Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Martyn Walton & Nick Humphries.

In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk), Tim Jones (Footpath Officer)

Parishioners: 0

 

  1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements

Cllr Martin Willingale opened the meeting.

 

  1. Apologies for absence

Karen Brighton (Councillor), Richard Whitlow (Councillor), Jacqueline Allum (Councillor), Ben Hurdman (District Councillor) & Colin Pemberton (Village Hall Committee).

 

  1. Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
  • Register of Interests

Noted.

  • Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Nil declared.

  • Other Disclosable Interests

None.

  • Dispensations

None.

 

  1. Open Session

The meeting was adjourned for the open session. 

  • District Councillors

Cllr Ben Hurdman provided the following report to share at the meeting:

Wychavon have appointed a new head of planning. Mr Ian Macleod who has joined from Birmingham City Council. 

At the meeting with John Campion the PCC I have mentioned the fly tipping incidents that have occurred in the area recently. Also, the lack of communication and the lack of action when the police are called, especially in rural areas. 

Regarding the SWDPR the inspectors for this plan have now been appointed. 

  • County Councillor

No report was available.

  • Village Hall Committee

The following written report had been received:

Village Hall Committee Report to Parish Council Meeting 14th March 2024

The great news is the success of the recently begun Tai Chi classes. The six-week trial started Feb 21st to end of March and they are being well enough attended for the tutor, Andrew Lowe, to book permanently to the rest of the year. They produce a good income stream to fill a revenue gap following the ending of the Friday yoga classes.

It’s become apparent during Tai Chi and Yoga classes that the ageing heating radiators are very noisy and not good for quiet activities. The Village Hall Committee is now looking into the possibilities and costs of replacing them, hopefully with more efficient heating

The Community Coffee Morning is still going strong with around 18 people attending each gathering, either staying for the whole two hours or people dropping in and dropping out. It performs admirably a function of the hall to help general wellbeing.

St Peter’s church held two Lent Course sessions.

Future bookings:

  • Wedding coming up April 10/11/12.
  • St Peter’s Church Annual Parochial Church Meeting in April.
  • Use as Polling station on May 2nd for the election of the West Marcia Police and Crime Commissioner)
  • Buddhist discussion group
  • A children’s party on May 12th.

The Spring Newsletter is being prepared and about to be published and distributed.                     

-PRO & Bookings Officer Colin Pemberton

  • Footpaths Officer

Footpath report was provided by Tim Jones. It has been difficult to assess due to weather. Wooden footpath sign has fallen and has been temporarily reinstated. This needs to be fixed by Worcestershire County Council (WCC). Clerk reported that Lengthsman has logged this with WCC. Clerk will raise with Fiona Argyll at WCC.

  • Public participation

0 parishioners in attendance.

 The meeting resumed following the open session.

 

  1. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 25th January 2024

It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.

  

  1. Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
  • W/22/00711/FUL & W/22/00968/LB: To receive an update on Manor Farm, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Conversion of barn to dwelling and erection of car port, to include raised drive and dropped kerb. Application restarted due to revised information being received.

No updates available, pending decision.

 

  1. Public Rights of Way and Highways
  • PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.

Councillors reported the bridleway at Speart near Piddlebrook is impassable due to the recent weather. Clerk to raise with Fiona Argyle at WCC.

  • Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.

Clerk to ask Lengthsman to add cutting around the new Queen’s Jubilee plaque to his work schedule – to keep it visible and prevent damage.

  • Flooding: Update on the flooding issues within the Parish.

Cllr Martin Willingale reported that with the recent rain the flooding has improved (following the works carried out by WCC). Will continue to monitor.

 

  1. Progress reports
  • Councillor vacancies

It was noted that there is one vacancy on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.

  • Neighbourhood Watch

Cllr Karen Brighton was unable to attend the meeting, so no update was available.

 

  1. Parish matters for discussion/decision
  • Portrait of His Majesty The King

The village hall committee did not require the portrait. Cllr Willingale will ask the PCC.

  • .gov Domains

It was RESOLVED to not pursue the .gov domains at this time.

 

  1. Finance
  • Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.

It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.

  • Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.

It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.

  • Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
    • Kerry Williamson (February and March salary and expenses): £585.09
    • Carl Brassington (Lengthsman): £370
    • Abbots Morton Village Hall booking: £27

It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices. Clerk to set up the payments to then be authorised by Cllr Humphries.

 

  1. Correspondence
  • Worcestershire CALC: CALC Update 24-

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: Agenda for Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of CALC

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: LNRS Consultation.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Invitation to the Chairman of Wychavon District Council’s Civic Service.

The above correspondence was sent to Cllr Martin Willingale.

  • Wychavon District Council: Portrait of His Majesty The King for all Town, Parish and Community Councils in the UK.

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered in item 9.1.

  • Wychavon District Council: Notification of Consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy Draft Charging Schedule.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: 2024 Wychavon Parish Games.

The above correspondence was NOTED, no further action required.

  • Wychavon District Council: Consultation on Draft Revised Statement of Licensing Policy (2024-2029).

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Budget 2024.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Revised Planning Validation Document Consultation.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Digitalisation of Parish Lengthsman Database.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Home Upgrade Grant Scheme.

The above correspondence was NOTED, Clerk has sent out to Parishioners via a ‘News’ article from the Parish Council website.

  • Worcestershire County Council: New Community Orchard and Mini Forest Funding.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • West Mercia Police: SNT Team Poster.

The above correspondence was NOTED. Clerk to send to Cllr Karen Brighton as Neighbourhood Watch Representative.

 

  1. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda

Cllr Willingale passed the new Queen’s Jubilee plaque to Cllr Walton who will fit the plaque.

 

  1. Date of the next meeting

The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 23rd May 2024.

 

The meeting closed at 8.46PM.

 

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